The Democratic Challenge of Venezuela

The election day of July 28 for the presidential election for the 2025-2031 period showed the enthusiastic civic and citizen participation of the Venezuelan people, in which it is noted and reaffirmed their decision that democracy is strengthened when the political community speaks out and self-determines in the choice of its destiny.

Access to the minutes and citizen auditing of the votes constitute a substantive part of Venezuelan democratic culture, built over sixty years of national, regional and local electoral processes, including the referendum that approved the current constitutional framework in 1999. 

Therefore, it is urgent that the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela publish the total number of tally sheets by polling station, as well as the verification of the results by the citizens and all the political parties that participated, to dispel any doubt and prevent the conflict situation from getting out of control.

We call on all political actors, both government and opposition, to guarantee a climate of peace and democratic coexistence; under no circumstances is the use of any type of violence justified to settle differences over the election results.  

Peace and democracy in the region are strengthened by broad participation, timely citizen access to voting records, and social oversight.

CLACSO Steering Committee